More on Those Dangerous 'Right-Wing Extremists'

There has been a great deal of controversy over the release by the Department of Homeland Security of an analysis by its Extremism and Radicalization Branch about the threats posed by right-wing extremism. One of my sources at DHS recently provided me with a copy of another highly-classified memorandum prepared by that same office. Because of its importance to the public debate, I have reproduced it below, with the informant's email information deleted to protect his identity.

CLASSIFIED FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

U.S. Department of homeland Security

Office of Intelligence and Analysis

Assessment

21 April 2009

Prepared by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch, Environment Threat Analysis Division. Not coordinated with those wusses at the FBI.

TO: Janet Napolitano

Secretary

Department of Homeland Security

RE: Follow-up to 7 April 2009 Report: "Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment."

(U)SCOPE: Recommendation for implementation of immediate surveillance of right-wing extremists in Virginia

As you are aware from the 7 April report that DOS circulated to federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, we are concerned over radicalization and recruitment by right-wing extremists who pose a danger of instigating domestic terrorism. In that report, the Extremism and Radicalization Branch (ERB) warned about right-wing extremism that is "mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority" and is against "restrictions on firearms ownership and use."

In fact, one of our primary concerns is the "high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by right-wing extremists." We expressed our concern "that right-wing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities." In fact, we are very worried about the "militia movement's opposition to gun control efforts, criticism of free trade agreements ... and perceived government infringement on civil liberties."

Our review and monitoring of public meetings and publications in Virginia have brought to our attention two individuals who fit these profiles and who, in our informed law enforcement opinion, are right-wing extremists who pose an imminent danger to the United States, particularly the federal government.

SUBJECTS OF INVESTIGATION:

The first individual is a resident of Louisa County, Virginia. He urged his fellow Virginians to arm themselves in a diatribe at St. John's Church in Richmond, when the legislature was in session. In fact, he urged mobilization of a militia to oppose federally-authorized confiscation of illegal weapons and ammunition. St. John's Church is obviously a violent Christian Identity organization (see page 4 of our initial report) and its dangerous, fundamentalist Christian cult will be the subject of a separate law enforcement memorandum.